There is near universal consensus in Congress and across our nation that our immigration system is in need of reform.

When the Senate debated the Immigration Reform Act in the summer of 2007, I introduced an amendment that sought to create a fair and workable path to legalization for those who have put down roots in this country, protect the legitimate interests of all working Americans, and honor the rule of law.  My amendment was designed to narrow the current bill’s path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants, estimated at 12 to 20 million persons. Instead, it would have allowed a percentage of undocumented persons to remain in the United States based on the depth of their roots in the community.

Until we find a workable middle-ground on immigration, addressing our illegal immigration problem should be a three-pronged effort.  First, and most importantly, we must secure our borders, particularly our southern border.  Only when that necessary precondition has been met should we proceed to the next step:  finding a way to absorb into our society those immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for many years and have put down roots here.  Finally, we must enforce immigration laws that are already in place, such as punishing corporations who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.  In addition to these steps, we must engage the Mexican government and hold it accountable for its responsibilities regarding illegal immigration.  

Given the current impasse over immigration reform, it is important that the President enforce existing laws and that Congress funds border security measures.